Data Scientist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Data Scientist Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Data Scientists in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$148,000 vs $165,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$91,358 vs $88,710
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$80,194 vs $74,345
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $148,000 | $165,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $112,000 | $125,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $192,000 | $215,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $240,000 | $270,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $91,358▲ | $88,710 | +$2,648 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $129,914 | $138,281▲ | -$8,367 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $80,194▲ | $74,345 | +$5,849 |
| Total Employment | 14,000 | 18,000 | -4,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $17,000 more (median: $148,000 vs $165,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($91,358 vs $88,710 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
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Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.